Macclesfield Hospital fundraiser John Jones MBE, hits a milestone as he raises £100,000 over 30 years

Local Macclesfield retiree, John Jones, 79, has been busking at Macclesfield hospital and around the local area for 30 years this June, raising a total sum of over £100,000 for East Cheshire NHS Trust charitable funds over this time.

John’s fundraising endeavours began back in 1991, shortly before he retired from a successful career in structural engineering at Manchester City Council, when during a routine visit to the hospital he saw posters appealing to the public to raise money for a CT scanner.

John offered to start collecting money by busking in the hospital corridors, and over the years has entertained many patients and their families across the wards, whilst raising vital funds which helped to provide a CT Scanner, an MRI Scanner, and other medical equipment for Macclesfield Hospital.

More recently, John has been fundraising for Macclesfield Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit in memory of his wife June who sadly passed away in Intensive care in March 2020.

John’s passion for the accordion was passed down from his adoptive father who used to play the instrument to him as a youngster. His enjoyment at hearing the accordion music spurred him on to teach himself over the years.

“The last 30 years playing my accordion has been an incredible and wonderful experience, having made so many friends, both with the hospital staff, and the public at large who by their support and generosity have enabled me to raise over £100,000 for the East Cheshire NHS Trust.

On a personal level I’m very grateful for the NHS staff who over the years have looked after myself, members of my own family and my wife June who sadly passed away last year.  

“It has been a privilege to be a hospital volunteer for all these years, and l still get a great deal of pleasure by playing my music for hospital staff and visitors. I’m eternally grateful to my father for instilling this gift in me and I can’t imagine life without the accordion.”

Chairman, Lynn McGill said, “On behalf of everyone at the trust, I would like to offer my sincere thanks to John for his time and commitment over the last 30 years. It’s always a pleasure to see John’s familiar face and hear him play his accordion and I know our patients, past and present, are comforted by his presence when they come for appointments.

Pictured - John Jones, age 79 playing the accordion at Macclesfield Hospital.